Dental floss holder



June 1943- J. BUSCARINO DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER Filed Sept. 18, 1.946

IN VEN TOR. JAMES BUSCARINO 76% Jew/WM HIS ATTORNEY Patented June 15,1948 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE James Buscarino, NewYork, N. Y.Application September 18, 1946, Serial No. 697,651 3 Claims. (Cl.132-91) This invention is an improvement in holders, and particularly aholder for a short length of dental floss or string to enable the userto clean his teeth more easily and remove small particles of food orother substances from the spaces between same.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and very inexpensivearticle of this kind, adapted to be produced in small size and largequantities, and sold at low cost; and after use on one or more occasionsdiscarded altogether because of sanitary considerations. When need againarises, another one, new and fresh, is selected by the owner from asupply which is kept on hand. To this end, the holder is made up andoffered for sale in lots containing a greater or less number of holders;which are put in boxes receiving a dozen or more and offered to thebuyer for a few cents per box.

The nature, objects and advantages of the invention are explained in thefollowing specification; and the novel features are defined in theappended claims. But this disclosure is illustrative only and changesmay be made in the embodiments actually shown without departing from theprinciple of the invention or going beyond the scope thereof.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 shows in perspective one form of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a modification of the construction thereof; and

Figure 3 shows a third form.

All the views present the improvement on a somewhat enlarged scale.

The holder has the shape of a yoke, and comprises a pair of separatearms I and a handle 2. Between the ends of the arms I is a length ofsterilized or medicated cord or string 3, such as the so-called dentalfloss, and this cord is drawn taut between the arms, so as to be incondition for use. Whenever a particle is to be removed from ones teeth,the handle 2 of the holder is grasped by the fingers, held in positionto force the string 3 in between the teeth, and then displaced back andforth until the particle is dislodged.

In the form shown in Figure 1, the length of dental floss 3 ispermanently attached to the arms I by molding the ends of the stringinto the extremities of the arms when the device is manufactured; or byplugs or pegs 4 pressing the cord tightly into recesses intheextremities of the arms I. The entire holder can be produced bymolding it of some suitable non-brittle substance, such as plastic, andtinged to have any desired color.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2, the arms I of the holderare shown as havin notches '5 in the extremities thereof. These notchesbecome narrower towards their inner ends, so that when a. length ofdental floss is put into place, the ends of the string are simply wedgedinto the notches and held fast, the string being stretched between thearms to the required extent.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3, the arms 6 and Iare movable and can be spread out to stretch the dental floss or strinbetween them. To this end the curved arms 6 and I have rabbeted parts 8and 9 respectively at a lower extremity; and the rabbeted parts arejoined by a stud H), which connects them together and forms a pivotabout which the arms 6 and I can be moved. Below the arms is a handle 2awhich has a pair of separated lugs II at the top to receive theconnected ends of the arms 6 and 1 between them. These projections orlugs are also perforated to give passage to the rivet stud 8, and couplethe handle to the arms 6 and I.

At opposite sides of the handle just below the projections II areadditional lateral projections I2, which abut the adjacent lower facesof the arms 6 and I, and act as stops for the movement of these armstowards distended position.

The inner faces of the arms 6 and I may have small notches 13 near theouter extremities, and the arms are distended by a U-shaped spring l5,which has its ends l4 bent out and seated in the notches l3; and forcesthe arms apart so as to keep the string of dental floss 3 well stretchedbetween them as before. To hold the spring I5 in position, it isprovided in the middle of its length with ears or lugs l6, one at eachside, which overlap the sides of the arms 6 and I, and are perforated sothat they also can give passage to the pivot stud 8 and be held in placethereby. The two halves of this spring urge the arms outward, to keepthem in contact with the projections H on the handle 2a, preventing thedental floss 3 from becoming slack in the device, and at the same timethe spring permits the arms to be pushed together when the string is tobe replaced. The lugs II will overlie the ears H5.

The improvement is thus seen to be very simple in construction, and veryinexpensive to produce. It is decidedly hygienic in character, and

eliminates the need of touching or handling with the fingers any part ofthe surface of the string which is to be forced between the owner'steeth. Therefore when it is required for use, very safe operation isassured.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

1. A holder comprising a pair of arms which are pivotally connectedtogether at one extremity; a handle joined to said arms adjacent saidpivoted extremities, and .a spring'between said arms mounted to exert aforce thereon to move them apart; said arms carrying a cord extendingbetween them.

2. A holder comprising a pair of arms which are rabbeted at oneextremity, said rabbetedem tremities overlapping, a handle havingseparated lugs adjacent one end, said lugs receiving the overlappingextremities of the arms between them, a U-shaped spring between saidarms, and

' Number having one or more projections adjacent the said rabbetedextremities, and a single pivot stud passing through said extremities,said lugs and said projections to hold the handle, the arms and thespring together.

3. The holder according to claim 2, wherein the handle has an additionallug at each side to abut the outer face of the adjacent arm near thepivot stud to oppose the effect of said spring.

JANIES- BUSCARINO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Jordan July 21, 1931 Aki May 15, 1934

